Unsought Confession of Hegemonism

THE Soviet TASS News Agency issued on June 18 a "Statement to the Government of Japan," crudely exerting pressure on the Japanese Government against including the anti-hegemony clause in the proposed Japan-China treaty of peace and friendship. Thus the Soviet authorities have revealed their hegemonic features. The TASS statement attacked China for allegedly "striving to impose by all possible means the inclusion into the treaty of peace and friendship, whose conclusion is being negotiated at the present time, a provision which ... is aimed, first and foremost, against the Soviet Union." However, the wordy statement failed to make clear what provision "is aimed, first and foremost, against the Soviet Union." This brings to mind the character Ah Q in Lu Hsun's story who, having shiny ringworm scars on his scalp, made "bright" and "light" forbidden words both for himself and for others. The Brezhnev clique taboos all mention of "anti-hegemonism" because it is pursuing a policy of hegemonism. Any mention of "opposition to hegemony" throws it into a fit. Hisao Kuroda, Chairman of the National Headquarters of the Japan-China Friendship Association (Orthodox), hit the nail on the head when he said: "If the Soviet Union does not pursue hegemonism, colonialism and imperialism and will not do so in future, then why should it oppose putting down the anti-hegemony clause in the Japan-China Joint Statement in the proposed treaty? This shows that the Soviet Union has been pursuing hegemonism and will continue to do so!" The statement also slanderously accused China of wanting "to involve Japan ... in the orbit of their foreign policy." Who after all wants to involve Japan in the orbit of his foreign policy? That the Japanese and Chinese Governments are negotiating for a Japan-China peace and friendship treaty in accordance with, the .spirit of the Japan-China statement is a matter concerning only Japan and China. But the Brezhnev clique is so full of rancour against this that it is trying hard to obstruct and undermine the negotiations. The Soviet authorities also have vilified all Japanese personage* who are opposed to hegemonism. For example, the release of a joint statement comprising anti-hegemony content by the Sixth Delegation of the Japan Socialist Party to China and the China-Japan Friendship Association brought a TASS attack on Chairman Tomomi Narita of the Japan Socialist Party for "serving as an accomplice of Peking in its policy of great-nation chauvinism." Now the Soviet authorities have become more blatant by releasing the TASS statement. They have even openly clamoured that they will "give a proper rebuff" to any action which will "create obstacles to the improvement of Soviet-Japanese relations." and, in the tone of an overlord, ordered Japan to take "the same approach." This only serves to show that it is none other than the Soviet authorities themselves who want to "involve" Japan "in the orbit of their foreign policy." However, this hegemonic behaviour will never succeed in the face of the Japanese people who have self-respect. The statement drew strong reaction from Japan immediately after it was made. Japanese government leaders declared that "the negotiations between Japan and China are aimed at maintaining and developing relations between the two countries in accordance with the 1972 joint statement." that the anti-hegemony question is "a bilateral problem to be resolved through the joint efforts of Japan and China, and remarks on which by third nations are uncalled for," and that "the Soviet statement is difficult to understand, there is no reason for the Soviet Union to interfere in the negotiations between Japan and China." The Ninon Keizai Shimbun reported on June 18 that Japanese Foreign Ministry sources hold that "the Soviet action will have an exactly opposite effect." and that the Soviet publication of the statement in relation to the hegemony issue is an "unsought confession." The TASS statement wants Japan to "give a proper rebuff" to China. But this statement by the Soviet revisionists, an unsought confession of hegemonism. has met with and will continue to meet with strong rebuff from the Japanese public.